The vehicles were of the standard Derby high-intensity design. They were more or less identical to the Class 118s, the only obvious difference was that the top of the 4-character headcode box in the roof dome had a flatter top than the Birmingham build.

The seats were originally maroon with tan headrests. The floor covering was green and the partitions were in light tan coloured 'wood grain' formica. The drivers cab seats were green.

Although ungangwayed when built, these were added later. By 1965 at least four sets had them added, for strengthening with converted hauled stock. From about 1968 the rest had the corridor connections added for 'Paytrain' operations.

Few, in any, were built with lamps on the cab fronts, and at the start of the '80s some still did not have any.

Three types of buffers have been used, large round faced, a few ovals, but most had circular ones cut top and bottom ('square'). 51332 had these when new but were changed during it's first works visit to round ones.